There are two stories about St. Valentine, the person Valentine's Day was titled for. One legend says the Emperor forbid marriage because he needed men for this army.  St. Valentine performed marriages for couples who were in love, and for this he was put in prison  The other legend says that St. Valentine fell in love with the jailer's daughter . He was ultimately executed by the Emperor, but on February 14 before he died he wrote a love letter to the jailer's daughter and signed it "From your Valentine." 

This saint's day is a time to honor love.  During the Middles Ages people would congregate in gardens on February 14 to listen to love poems and romantic music.   After awhile folks lost interest in this holiday.  However, it became widespread again n the 17th century when people started sending Valentine's Day cards or, as they are called, valentines.

Valentine's frequently have hearts on them.  This is because people used to think that the heart was the source of one's being and emotions.   Sometimes valentine's feature cupid, a frolicsome child with wings on his back and a bow and arrow in his hand.  Cupid's legend says that if one of his arrows hit you, you instantly fall in love.

Sweet Treats
Conversation Hearts

Valentine's Day Party Games:

Heart Bingo: Bingo game with the word heart substituted for bingo and candy hearts can be used as the markers. The cards for this version of  bingo could be made with the heart graphics.

How many hearts?
Fill a small jar with cinnamon hearts, conversation hearts, or whatever you choose. Have each child guess how many hearts are in the jar. The one that comes the closest wins.

Pin the Heart on Tin Man:
Equipment: Large drawing of a tin man and a heart for each child. Play the same as pin the tail on the donkey but this is pin the heart on tin man.

Heart:
Equipment: Paper hearts and pencils for each child.
On the top of each heart write valentine. Set a time limit and tell the players to write as many words as possible from the word Valentine. For example ten, line, ant, vine, etc. This could be a team activity also.  Give a small prize to the children with the most words.

Valentine Mailbox
Spray paint a facial tissue box red and let the kids sponge paint white or pink hearts on the box. This will be for them to take there Valentine's Day cards home in like a mailbox.

Heart Basket
Take an empty cereal box. hold it so that the bottom is angled in a V shape. This will be the V shape of the heart basket. Now cut the front and back of the box in a heart shape. The sides are just cut straight across. Then make a hanger strip/handle out of another box and staple it on the sides. You can spray paint the box and sponge hearts or flowers on it or decorate however you'd like. It ends up looking very cute like a May Day basket that hangs off a door knob. 

Valentine's Day Gift Ideas

Heart Jewelry	Heart Charm Bracelet	Sculpted Heart Box
Heart Flutes	Flashlight Key Chain Grilling Tools Catchy Quote Playing Cards Fluttering Fun Heart Key Ring	Baseball Watch and Pen

 

Item #... or keyword(s)

Valentine's Day Party
Valentine's Decorations

Valentine Party Kit

A Sweet Treat
Save the Date Postcards

Valentine Party Plates

Straight From The Heart

Lovable Hearts Banner
My Valentine Banner

CANDY TREATS and GIFT BASKETS

Sweet Treats
Conversation Hearts